Efficiency of electrical heat vs. mechanical heating

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the efficiency of electrical heating compared to mechanical heating, specifically in the context of heating water using an electric resistance heater versus a mechanical whisk powered by an electric motor. Participants explore the mechanisms of heat generation in both scenarios and their implications for heating efficiency.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions which method will heat water to a given temperature faster, suggesting that mechanical heating may be more efficient due to friction heating the water directly.
  • Another participant argues that most mechanical work done by the whisk will contribute to bulk motion rather than heat, implying that the efficiency of heating may be lower.
  • A different viewpoint asserts that once the fluid stops accelerating, the energy from the whisk primarily combats friction, generating heat effectively, and that the immersion heater heats the water through conduction.
  • One participant emphasizes that the immersion heater has minimal losses as it is surrounded by water, while the electric motor incurs significant losses due to friction in its components.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the efficiency of the two heating methods, with no consensus reached on which method is definitively more effective for heating water.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss assumptions regarding energy conservation and the nature of heat generation in both heating methods, but these assumptions remain unresolved and depend on specific conditions of the setup.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying thermodynamics, energy efficiency, or practical applications of heating methods in fluid systems.

Low-Q
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I have a question about efficiency of electrical heating vs. mechanical heating.

Let me explain an example:

I have two containers with 1 litre of water each.
In one container I use a electric heater (electrical resistance) 1W.
In the other container I use an electric motor attached to a whisk where the motor use 1W to run the whisk.

Except for the efficiency of the electric motor: Which scenario will heat up the water to a given temperature first, given that the water in both initially is the same?

I ask because I assume that a electric heater (resistance) will radiate wavelength that is not absorbed by the water as well, while the mechanical work will cause friction in the water itself to be heated, and assume this is more efficient.

Any idea, or facts about this?

Vidar
 
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the vast majority of the mechanical work will be taken up by bulk motion of the fluid, not heat.
 
chill_factor said:
the vast majority of the mechanical work will be taken up by bulk motion of the fluid, not heat.
I understand that, but that motion is not loading the motor except for the period the fluid accelerates into that motion. This motion is kinetic energy that is conserved after acceleration, and do not require energy to sustain. However, the loss (friction) that wants to slow down the motion in the water require 1J/s. That is loss which will generate heat.
If this wasn't the case we put in energy that is not conserved (lost or destroied), and that is not possible. 1W from the whisk is required to fight friction - not to sustain motion.

Vidar
 
chill_factor said:
the vast majority of the mechanical work will be taken up by bulk motion of the fluid, not heat.
This isn't true: Low-Q is correct.

Once the fluid stops accelerating as it is being stirred -- which takes only a few seconds -- all of the energy goes toward combating friction and all goes toward generating heat.

The electric resistance heater (an immersion heater, right?) heats the water just fine because as an immersion heater, it heats due to conduction. So...

The immersion heater gets a little head start (a few seconds), then heats the water at the same rate as the stirrer, but the stirrer heats the water more evenly.
 
Yes, immersion heater is the right description. Thanks for the answer :-)

Vidar
 
well..u have already come to the conclusion..but i want to tell u from another perspective..
the energy conservation..both electrical appliances have same power requirement.if u study electrical heater..what ever the electrical energy is coming in is going out in the form of heat..from a resistance which is totally surrounded by water(in conventional heaters) so loses are minimum..but in case of electrical motor..the loses are high..because there is a lot of friction in motors..in bearings,etc..due to which energy is lost ..so water will be heated more quickly by electrical heater.. thank you
 

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